iOS Software Chief Eddie Cue Pushed for 7-inch iPad in 2011

We’re expecting that an iPad Mini with a 7.85-inch display will be announced on September 12 — the same day Apple will reportedly announce the iPhone. However, the ongoing trial between Samsung and Apple revealed that Apple has actually been toying with the idea of a 7-inch tablet for more than a year. During the Steve Jobs Apple days, even.

“I believe there will be a 7-inch market and we should do one,” iOS software chief Eddie Cue said in an email. Cue reportedly made the statement in January of 2011. Even though Jobs was outspoken against tablets that had smaller screens than the iPad, the internal email revealed that Steve Jobs seemed “receptive most recent time,” (sic) Jon Fortt from CNBC said.